Negotiations began on 7 December 2015 and concluded at the 17th session of the Cooperation Council on 23 May 2017. This agreement will replace the current EU-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The agreement also supports improved mobility between EU and Armenian citizens, while reaffirming the opening of negotiations on visa-free travel for Armenian citizens in the Schengen area. The agreement also contains a substantial trade title with significant commitments in several areas of trade policy. These will improve the conditions for bilateral trade between the EU and Armenia, while fully respecting Armenia`s commitments as a member of the Eurasian Union. They will ensure a better regulatory environment for economic actors in areas such as trade in services and goods, business creation and operation, capital flows, public procurement and intellectual property rights, sustainable development and competition. The agreement encourages Armenian companies to sell more goods and services to the EU and EU companies to open subsidiaries in Armenia, which will contribute to economic growth and job creation. [14] [16] The comprehensive and extended partnership agreement can be considered a „lite“ version of an EU free trade agreement in which 96% of Armenian products can enter the EU internal market with zero tariffs. From 2020, the EU will be Armenia`s largest export market. [17] Armenia is a member of Eurocontrol, the European Civil Aviation Conference and a partner of the European Aviation Safety Agency. Following the signing of the new partnership agreement between Armenia and the EU in February 2017, Armenia has begun negotiations to join the common European airspace.
In the first round of talks in April 2017, the head of the Armenian Civil Aviation Division said that Armenia valued joining common airspace and that this would allow Armenian and European airlines to further strengthen their activities and allow more European airlines access to Armenia. [48] The EU delegation in Yerevan said that the agreement would allow Armenia to establish closer ties with Europe and the outside world and open new routes, while reducing travel costs for passengers. Once the agreement is reached, airlines will have the opportunity to operate new routes without restrictions and to benefit from the same opportunities to serve a market of 500 million people. [49] The Comprehensive and Comprehensive Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the EU (CEPA) is an agreement that covers the EU`s interests, including cooperation in the economic, trade and political fields between the European Union and Armenia. The agreement develops these areas and provides a long-term basis for further integration and strengthening of relations between the EU and Armenia. The agreement also aims to gradually bring Armenian legislation closer to the EU`s acquis. In July 2019, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian declared that „Armenia is not only a country that has signed an agreement with the European Union, but also a country that is and has always been deeply European in terms of culture. So it is very natural for us to get closer to the EU.
Armenia is a cradle of European values, from our religion and culture to literature and music,“ during a meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk in Yerevan. [67] In return, Donald Tusk said: „Armenia is an integral part of the European family and culture. A place of authentic people who appreciate freedom.